At this time, the promoter, who was wearing a black robe with a red collar and a crown, stepped forward and held a bamboo slip and said, "Heaven and earth created all things, and all things are nourished here. The sun receives its essence, and the moon moistens its beauty. The mystery of heaven's etiquette is contained in it. People set the etiquette at the wedding ceremony, eat three pieces of meat, and drink from the same cup. Since the ceremony is performed, the couple will be together and have wings together."
"Despite all the difficulties and dangers, I swear to share the hardships with you. Despite all the sickness and prosperity, I swear to never abandon you. Your love is as high as a mountain. Your love is as eternal as the sky. Your affection lasts for generations. You treat each other with respect, each fulfilling his or her own courtesy. Your family is harmonious and prosperous. It will never change. It will last forever. This is your good fate. I specially praise you."
Si Yiyan and Wen Xinya were listening to the praises. The two seemed to be standing side by side, and even Si Yiyan was always half a step behind Wen Xinya, keeping an eye on Wen Xinya's physical condition at all times.
Not many people pay attention to these details.
However, Wen Xinya felt deeply that the Han wedding ceremony was indeed complicated. The heavy Hanfu on her body, plus the heavy jewelry on her head and body, did make her feel a little burdened, but it did not put any strain on her body.
Then, another deacon in a crown and robes began to burn incense.
The ceremony begins and the wedding gets down to business.
The master of ceremonies called out, "The bride and groom are going to have their hands washed."
At this time, the sponsor removed the red cover of the wine jar on the "Lower Volume" Han table, took water with a spoon, poured it into the jar three times, and splashed the remaining water between the two steps in the hall.
The maids of honor, best men and concubines will pour water on the newlyweds and wash their hands and faces symbolically.
The meaning of this is to burn incense and purify the body, and receive gifts from heaven. The gift between husband and wife is the greatest in the world, and the most solemn.
The praiser said: "The washing ceremony is complete!"
At this time, the master of ceremonies said: "The bride and groom, please perform the ceremony of sitting opposite each other!"
Si Yiyan stood up, bowed, and invited Wen Xinya to sit opposite him. Wen Xinya returned the greeting, and they both sat opposite each other.
MC: "The bride and groom are to perform the same prison ceremony!"
The sponsor invited Si Yiyan and Wen Xinya to drink some wine to clear their mouths, and then they ate the food on the plate together and ate from the same cage.
This ritual must be performed three times to be completed.
This move is of epoch-making significance, requiring the newlyweds to drink three glasses of wine and take three bites of food on the plate, symbolizing eating from the same pot, being a family, and sharing joys and sorrows.
Wen Xinya and Si Yiyan bowed to the people who gave the praises.
The praiser returned the greeting: "The ceremony of sharing the prison is complete!"
MC: "The bride and groom are having their wedding ceremony!"
The sponsor poured wine from the cup, and Si Yiyan and Wen Xinya drank from the cup together. The cups were tied together with a red thread, and they drank half of the cup and exchanged them and drank it all.
What is happening here is an exchange of wine glasses, not the drinking of wine from each other’s cups as in later times.
In Han weddings, the exchanged cups were also called the "Heqing Cup". Its metaphorical meaning was more profound than the "Jiaobei Wine" of later generations.
Drinking the wine together after drinking the cup is a metaphor for being united as one, having the same status as one, and being close to one another.
At this time, the singing in the main hall gradually changed, and the song was "The Book of Songs - Tang Feng - Chou Mu".
“I have prepared firewood, and three stars are in the sky. What a night it is, and I meet this good lover. My love, my love, how can I love such a good lover…” A faint warmth and sweetness flows in the elegant and lingering singing.
The warmth and elegance can't help but be savored carefully.
Chou Mu: entwine, bind, like lingering.
Bundle of firewood: a metaphor for the unity and deep affection between husband and wife.
She noticed that several ancient songs at today's wedding were all full of profound meanings. "Guan Guan Ju Jiu" described the pursuit of a gentleman for a lady, while "Tao Zhi Yao Yao" congratulated and praised the bride, and this song "Chou Mu" revealed lingering love.
Master of ceremonies: "The bride and groom are about to perform the hair-tying ceremony!"
Si Yiyan stood up, walked to Wen Xinya's side, and personally untied the red tassel that was used for the engagement in Wen Xinya's hair. This was called "untying the tassel."
Then, Si Yiyan and Wen Xinya each cut off a section of their black hair, and the sponsor carefully tied them together with a red tassel rope, which was meant to be a hair tying ceremony.
The knot was successfully tied.
Si Yiyan stared at the hair tied together in the plate and said to Wen Xinya, "We are husband and wife, and we love each other without doubt! We share the same heart and will be together forever."
He chose the Han marriage because he saw that behind every complicated ritual of the Han marriage, there is an implicit metaphor of husband-wife relations. It is solemn, orthodox, inherited from heaven and transmitted from earth, and is the most sacred thing.
Wen Xinya's eyes flickered, and the light was moist: "Good at hiding black hair, loving each other till old age!"
My dear husband, please keep your hair safe and tie the knot with me. From now on, we will love each other till we grow old and never leave each other!
Such charming and affectionate expression made Si Yiyan's deep eyes shine brilliantly.
The master of ceremonies shouted: "The ceremony of untying the tassel and tying the hair is complete!"
An hour later, all the formalities were completed.
Wen Xinya was wearing thick Hanfu and heavy accessories, but she did not feel tired. Instead, she hoped that time could stay here so that she could quietly feel the sacredness of heaven and earth and this moment of their marriage.
And the little one in her belly seemed to feel that this wedding ceremony of love was kept quiet and did not make her feel uncomfortable at all.
A relieved smile appeared on Si Yiyan's face. The wedding he had carefully planned and prepared was finally completed successfully. The sense of accomplishment in his heart was self-evident.
He looked at Wen Xinya, the love of his life, who had now become his wife.
From then on, they spent their lives together, never leaving each other.
"Zir is newly married, the wedding ceremony is complete!"
Following this solemn shout, the place became solemn.
Si Yiyan stood up from the table and gently and considerately helped Wen Xinya up, and then the two of them took a step back.
Si Yiyan bowed and said, "Thank you, Madam!"
Wen Xinya responded softly: "My husband, how are you!"
Si Yiyan took Wen Xinya's hand, bowed to the guests who came to watch the ceremony, and then held Wen Xinya's hand tightly, walked to the old man Wen who was sitting quietly in the hall, and knelt down to pay homage.
Old Master Wen was overjoyed and said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, get up quickly!"
Then, they bowed down to Mr. Mo with the same etiquette.
Old Master Mo sat solemnly, speaking in a calm and dignified manner: "You two are getting married today, and from now on you should be husband and wife, loving each other forever. Do not let down the oath of this Han marriage that was made by heaven and earth."
"Xinya (Yan) must remember this, and will never let you down or abandon you."
Wen Xinya and Si Yiyan bowed again.
Mr. Mo wanted to say a few more words, but he felt sorry for Xinya's pregnancy, so he quickly said, "Get up, no need to be so polite."
The host said, "The ceremony is over, let's start the banquet!"
This officially announced the end of this solemn and grand wedding ceremony.
If this is a wedding, it would be better to say that it is a grand ceremony of tying the knot. The whole ceremony is noble, elegant and magnificent. The wedding ceremony is solemn and majestic and is completed in one go.
There is a kind of soul-stirring power in the sacred, solemn, peaceful and serene ceremony. Everyone present can deeply feel that this quiet and solemn ceremony that begins at dusk reflects a long-lost atmosphere of civilization, which is the pure, beautiful and great Han civilization, which goes straight to the heart of the people and to the heaven and earth.
The power of spiritual civilization has always been the most sacred and mysterious power in the world.